Need some space?!

by CAMILLE CHIN  October 2012

Now this is the ultimate getaway. The getaway of all getaways. A getaway so far out of this world that it is, well, out of this world. The catch? Amateur astronauts will have to fork out at least US$95,000 to visit outer space, which is how much The New York Times reports that California-based XCOR will charge for a 30-minute flight aboard the one-passenger Lynx beginning in 2013. And NASA is as psyched as the above-average Joe. After all, the surge to make all of this happen sooner rather than later is, in part, because real astronauts want to hitch a ride; Atlantis’ last launch was in 2011 and there aren’t anymore shuttles on standby.

NASA’s finest may prefer to launch with Virgin Galactic though. SpaceShipTwo launches out of New Mexico and seats six. Two-hour trips costs US$200,000 and should begin in 2013 or early 2014. Then there’s Blue Origin, which launches out of Texas, and Bigelow Aerospace, out of Florida and Virginia, but when they’ll be ready and for how much is TBD.

This article was accurate when it was published. Please confirm rates and details directly with the companies in question.